Atomizer



NOV- 7, Q LAGERHQLM ATOMI ZER Filed April 5, 1931 8/ 25 INVENTOR a 54k wBY ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PAT NT DFFlCEApplication April 8, l

7 Claims,

This invention relates to atomizer construction and more particularly toan apparatus, adapted to be carried by the user, for vaporizing andspraying perfumes.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, rugged andcompact construction for vaporizing perfume and the like. Another objectof the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated thatmay be readily operated with one finger. Another object of the inventionis to provide an atomizer construction which may be quickly and easilysealed and unsealed. Another object of the invention is to provide anatomizer of the piston operated type in which the operating mechanismmay be locked and unlocked in a very simple and elfective manner.Another object ofthe invention is to provide an atomizer of the pistonoperated type in which the piston has a definite range of move- 20 mentduring operation of the device, and is moved to a further position toseal the device. Other objects will be in part obvious or in partpointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, as will beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which shown one of various possibleembodiments my invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device closed condition, certainparts being shown central vertical section;

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the device shown inopened condition ready for manual operation;

Figure 3 is a top plan view;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on an enlarged scaleof the piston rod and associated parts in elevated position, the sectionbeing taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Figure 4,showing the piston rod in depressed position;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure4;

Figure '7 is a top plan View of a modified form of the device;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the modifieddevice, the section being taken on the line 88 of Figure 7 and Figure 9is a fragmentary side elevation of another modification.

is of in in 931. Serial No. 527,445

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughouttheseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2,there is generally indicated at 10a container made preferably of sheetmetal and preferably elongated in trans verse cross'section, as appearsclearly from Figure 3. The'top ll of the container 10 has asubstantially centrally positioned round opening with which is aligned acylinder 12 in which a piston generally indicated at 13 is to operate.As appears from Figure 2, the lower end of the cylinder 12 is closed,conveniently by the bottom member 12a of the cylinder 12. The upper endof the cylinder 12, which may be made of metal tubing, is sealed, as bysoldering, to the top member 11 of the casing 10.

The interior of the cylinder 12 is thussealed off or separated from theinterior of the container 10 and into the latter is placed the liquid tobe vaporized or sprayed, such as perfume.

In the top member 11 and to the right of the cylinder 12, as viewed inthe drawing, is an opening for introducing the perfume or the like intothe container 10; preferably this opening is formed by an interiorlythreaded collar 15 soldered to the top member 11 and adapted to beclosed-by the threaded plug generally indicated at 16, the latter havinga threaded portion 16a and a knoblike operating portion 162) whichprojects above the plane of the top 11 of the container 10, also acylindrical guiding portion 160.

Through the top member 11 and to the left of the cylinder 12, as viewedin the drawing, PI'O-r jects a metal tube 17 (see Figure 2), the tube 17extending downwardly into the container 10 to a point in proximity tothe bottom 1 1 thereof. The upper exposed end 17a of the tube 17 may besuitably shaped or restricted to form a nozzle or jet through which theliquid from the container 18 may be discharged in a manner more clearlydescribed hereinafter. Adjacent to the jet 17a is a short tube 18extending through the top 11', forming a vent to permit more convenientfilling of the container with the liquid, allowing the escape of air asthe liquid is poured through the filling opening 15, and preventingtheformation of a partial vacuum in the container 10 above the liquidduring operation of the'device, which partial vacuum might restrict theiiow of liquid through the tube 17.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a tube 19 extends from the lower ordischargeend of the cylinder 12 upwardly through a plug of moldablemetal 19a to the outside of thecasing above the top member 11 thereof.The upper end of the tube 19 is bent sharply, the bend being located inthe moldable metal 19a, and the upper extremity of the tube 19constitutes a nozzle 1%, which, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, islocated in proximity to the upper end of the nozzle 17a, so that whenthe downward movement of the piston 13 takes place, a stream of air isblown out of the tube 19 and substantially across the nozzle 17a, thusdrawing liquid upwardly in the tube 17 and causing the spraying ordiffusion of the liquid as rapidly as it is drawn upwardly and out ofthe tube 17.

The piston 13 is adapted for manual actuation and is secured to thelower end of a plunger or piston rod generally indicated at 20 (Figures2 and 4), the latter having a threaded lower end portion 20b adapted toreceive a nut 22 and a washer 23 by means of which the piston proper13a, taking the form of an inverted cup-shaped leather washer, issecurely clamped. Preferably, also, a washer 13b is interposed betweenthe leather piston proper 13a and the piston rod 20, so as to back upthe piston proper 1311 during its down stroke when the air in thecylinder 12 is expelled through the tube 19.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 4, the piston 20 includesa portion 20a which is non-circular in cross-section, preferably beingsquare, as shown in Figure 6. ThlS portion 20a extends through acylinder head 25 which has an opening 25a of such size and shape as topermit reciprocation of the piston rod in it while preventing turningmovement of the piston rod with respect to the cylinder head 25. Inorder to facilitate manufacture of the cylinder head 25, it ispreferably counterbored, as shown at 251). The opening 250; is desirablysquare and at certain portions fits the portion 20a of the piston rodclosely, but sufficient clearance is desirably allowed to permit theready passage of air between the piston rod and the cylinder head 25 inorder to prevent back pressure upon the piston when it is beingoperated. Located in the cylinder 12 is a spring 26, which urges thepiston 13 upwardly to the position shown in Figure 2, in which positionthe washer 13b abuts the cylinder head 25.

Referring now particularly to Figures 4 and 5, the portion 20a of thepiston 20 has therein a longitudinal bore 28, the upper end of which isthreaded at 29. Near the upper end of the portion 2011 a transverse boreextends through the piston rod 20 penetrating the bore 28. As actuallyshown in Figures 1 and 4, a corner of the square piston rod portion 20ais milled to form a flat surface 30a having a dihedral angularrelationship with the sides of the portion 20:; of 45 degrees, andstarting from the milled portion 30a the bore 30 is drilled through thecenter of the portion 20a to the diagonally opposite corner of theportion 20a where the drill point just emerges without pushing the drillthrough to make a full diameter bore. This leaves an orifice 30b ofirregular shape and of generally smaller width than the bore 30, therebeing guard portions 30c which hold a ball 31 from falling out of thebore 30 wherein it is located, but permit it to project from the cornerof the piston rod portion 20a and also from the flat sides thereof. Thebore 30 might be drilled perpendicular to a flat side of the piston rodportion 20 so far as certain features of the invention are concerned.

Still referring to Figure 4, a knob or operating member 32 has screwthreads 33 adapted to fit the threads 29 in the bore 28 of the pistonrod portion 2011. This knob 32, which to all intents and purposes is anintegral part of the piston rod 20 when the device is assembled, has abore 34 therethrough extending from the top of the knob through theportion 35 which has the screw threads 33. The knob 32 may have anyattractive design and preferably includes a circular flange 36, betweenwhich and the top of the piston rod portion 20a. is secured a flatportion 37 of a pressed metal cover 38, the flat portion 37 having ahole 39 therethrough which receives the threaded part 35 of the knob 32.Desirably a portion 37a is struck downwardly from the portion 23'?forming a key which seats in a corresponding notch made in the uppersurface of the piston portion 20a, as indicated in Figure 2.

Mounted for sliding movement in the bore 34 of the knob 32 is a pin 40,the lower end of which constitutes a piston-like portion 41. Above thepiston portion 41 is a flange 42, and the flange 42 and the pistonportion 41 are separated by an annular groove 43. In the bore 28 andbelow the piston portion 41 is a spring 44 which urges the pin and itsassociated parts upwardly, forcing the flange 42 against the threadedportion 35 of the knob 32. In this position of the parts, as illustratedin Figure 4, the ball 31 is maintained in the bore 30 in such a positionthat it projects beyond the corner and sides of the piston portion 20a,while when the pin 40 is depressed, as shown in Figure 5, the ball 31,when pressure is exerted against it, moves into the large bore 28 byreason of the fact that the recess 43 is at that time in line with thebore 30. The upper surface of the knob 32 is desirably knurled, as shownat 46, so as to permit the finger of a user of the device to grip theknob without slipping therefrom. Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5,preferably a groove 47 is formed in the upper surface of the knob 32,the center of the groove 47 crossing the axis of the bore 34. Preferablyalso a notch 48 is formed in the upper end of the pin 40.

In the cover 38 is a piece of rubber or other soft material 50 which,when the cover is closed, forms a stopper for the nozzles 17a and 19band also for the tube 18, preventing the escape of fluid from thecontainer 10. In order to secure the piece of rubber or other softmaterial 50 in position in the cover 38, a portion 50a thereof isclamped by a metal clamp 5022 which is aiiixed to the sides of the cover38 by soldering.

Considering now the operation of the device, the parts, when in closedrelation, assume the position shown in Figure 1, and at that time, thepin 40 being in its upper position, the piston portion 41 holds the ball31 projecting from the sides and corner of the piston rod portion 20a,as best illustrated in Figure 6. As illustrated in Figure 1, the ball 31is at that time below the cylinder head 25 and in engagement with it,thus preventing the rise of the piston 13 and piston rod 20 by suchengagement. All operating parts of the device are at this time sealed,and both nozzles and the vent 18 are closed, as clearly shown in Figure1.

When the user wishes to operate the device he holds it in one hand andpasses the thumb nail or a finger nail along the groove 47 until itcomes in contact with the upper end of the pin 40 or the notch 48therein. A slight downward movement of the finger nail depresses the pin40 moving the groove 43 opposite the ball 31. As there is then nothingto back up the ball 31, the spring 26 in the cylinder 12 forces thepiston upwardly,

the user holding his thumb or finger upon the knob 32-thereof andallowing it to rise as highas he desires. from the pin 40, the pin movesupwardly under the influence of the spring 44 placing the piston portion41' again back of the ball 31 and forcing the ball through the opening30b to the position shown in Figures 4 and 6. The user then reciprocatesthe entire piston with the finger, and owing to the fact that the topofthe pin lies in the groove 47, there is no tendency to depress the pin40 when he does so. The ball 31', when the piston 20 is beingreciprocated, acts as a limiting stop, preventing the cover 38, which ofcourse rises and falls with the piston 20, from covering the nozzlesl'laand 19b and the vent 18. The ball 31, when acting as a limiting stopto prevent re-locking of the device in closed position, engages thecylinderhead 25 at the bottom of the counterbore 25b.

Reciprocation of the piston rod 20 and the piston l3 forces air from thecylinder 12 through the tube 19 and from the nozzle 19b. The piston 13,cylinder 12 and operating mechanism constitute a pressure generator tospray the perfume contained in the container 10. The blast of air uponthe top of the nozzle I'Yadraws liquid from the container 16 byaspiration and atomizes the liquid as it escapes from the nozzle 17a,the vent 18 preventing the formation of any vacuum in the container 10irrespective of how much liquid is drawn therefrom at a given time.

When the user wishes to close the device again he depresses the piston20 by forcing downwardly the knob 32 and at the same time inserts afinger or thumb in the groove 47 depressing the pin 40. This brings thegroove 43 opposite the ball 31 and the ball 31 passes by the cylinderhead 25, whereupon release of the finger or thumb nail from the pin 40causes the ball 31 to move outwardly again under the influence of thespring 44 and the edge of the piston portion 41 which is forcedupwardly, thus locking the piston 20 and the cover 38 in downwardposition, as shown in Figure 1, in which position the piece of rubber orother soft material closes the nozzles and the vent as described.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, a slightly modified construction isshown in which the cover 51 is of elongated form, as shown in Figure 7,and covers the entire top of the article. This cover may be made ofsheet metal pressed into the form shown in Figures 7 and 8 and includinga side wall 51a extending entirely around it. In the center of the topof the cover is a circular depression 52, 52 and in the center of thecircular depression is a hole 53.. The pin 40 extends through a flangednut 54, the flange 54a of which fits in the depression 53. The nut has ascrew-threaded portion 54b engaging the threads 29 of the bore 28. Arather thick washer 55 is interposed between ihe underside of the cover51 below the depression 53 and the top of the piston rod portion 20a.The other parts of the device shown in Figures '7 and 8 may be the sameas previously described in the case of Figures 1 to 6 inclusive.

In operating the modified construction shown in Figures 7 and 8, the pin40 may be depressed with a finger, thus releasing the cover 51, and thena pair of fingers placed on either side of the pin 40 and engaging thecover 51 may be used to reciprocate the piston 13, and the ball 31 willremain projecting from the hole 30b acting as a limiting stop for thedownward movement of the piston and piston rod.

The finger nail being then taken Referring now to Figure 9, anothermodified construction is shown in which the cover 56 covers slightlymore than half the length of the top of the container 10 and may beshaped, in plan, similar to the outline of the top shown in Figure 3,being rounded at 57 concentric with the axis of the piston 20. The cover56 has a skirt portion 58 extending all around it, the rounded portion57, however, being of slightly less depth in order to allow clearancefor the cylinder head 25. Also, preferably, the front of the cover 56 iscut away, as indicated at 59, so that the nozzles 19b and 17a will becleared after a very limited movement of the piston rod 20 upwardly.

The polygonal portion 20a of the piston rod 20 abuts the underside ofthe cover 56 which may be of sheet metal, and the flanged nut 60, havinga screw-threaded portion 61 with a bore therethrough, holds the cover 56to the piston 20. The pin 40 extends through the bore in the nut 61, andin other respects the parts of the embodiment shown in Figure 9 are asalready described, the filling cap 16:0 being of slightly differentshape having a screw slot 16y adapted to fit a coin.

The construction of Figure 9 is operated substantially as the otherconstructions, but it is noted that it may be operated with one fingerwhich is placed against the pin 40 to release the device, then slid tothe top of the cover 56 to reciprocate the piston, during whichreciprocation the ball 31 acts as a limiting stop. When it is desired toreplace the cover 56 in closed position, the finger is moved to the pin40 again, and when the parts are closed, the finger may be slippedtoward the front of the device, which automatically looks as the pin 49springs upwardly.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention anapparatus in which the several objects hereinabove pointed out, togetherwith many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. Itwill be seen that the apparatus is of compact and durable constructionand of dependable action, and that it is well adapted to meet theconditions of hard practical use.

' As many possible embodiments may be made of the above: invention, andas many changes might be made. in the embodiment above set forth, it isto be. understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth,.or..shown inthe accompanying drawingzis to be interpreted asillustrative and not ina limiting sense.

Iclaim:

1. .In a locking mechanism for a hand sprayer operatingpump, incombination, a cylinder, a'cylinder head for said cylinder, a piston insaid cylinder, a pistonrodfor said piston passing through said cylinderhead, there being a longitudinal bore in said ,piston rod, a pistonlikeportion fitting in saidlongitudinal bore; a rodlike portion extendingupwardly from said pistonlike portion, there being an annular groove insaid rodlike portion above said pistonlike portion, a knob attached tothe upper end of said piston rod, there being a longitudinal bore insaid knob through which said rodlike portion extends, a spring locatedin said piston rod underneath the pistonlike porrtion, there being alateral bore in the side of said piston rod, a ball substantiallyfilling said last named bore, a shoulder on the under side of thecylinder head, and a portion of the rodlike portion projecting upwardlyabove a part of the knob and it can bypass the shoulder on the cylinderhead and release of the pin causing the spring in the longitudinal boreto force upwardly the pistonlike portion thus projecting the balloutwardly and, when the piston is down in the cylinder, locking thepiston from upward movement-therein.

2. In apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the combination with the partstherein specified, of a shoulder on the upper side of said cylinder headto limit downward movementof the piston and piston rod when the ball isprojected outwardly in the lateral bore by reason of the springin thelongitudinal bore of the piston rod and the pistonlike portion therein.

3. In a locking mechanism for a hand sprayer operating pump, incombination, a cylinder, a cylinder head for said cylinder, a piston insaid cylinder, a piston rod for said piston passing through saidcylinder head, there being a longitudinal bore in said piston rod, apistonlike portion fitting in said longitudinal bore, a rodlike portionextending upwardly from said pistonlike portion, there being an annulargroove in said rodlike portion above said pistonlike portion, a

knob attached to the upper end of said piston rod, there being alongitudinal bore in said knob through which said rodlike portionextends, a spring located in said piston rod underneath the pistonlikeportion, there being a lateral bore in the side of said piston rod, aball substantially filling said last named bore, a shoulder on the upperside of the cylinder head, and a portion of the rodlike portionprojecting upwardly above a part of the knob and constituting a pin forthe operation of the locking mechanism, the depression of the pinallowing the ball to withdraw into the recess whereby it can bypass theshoulder on the cylinder head and release of the pin causing the springin the longitudinal bore to force upwardly the pistonlike portion thusproa jecting the ball outwardly and, when the piston is up in thecylinder, preventing it from being forced downwardly beyond the pointwhere the ball contacts with the shoulder.

4. In a locking mechanism for a hand sprayer operating pump, incombination, a cylinder, a

piston in said cylinder, a spring underneath the piston, detent lockingmeans to lock the piston downwardly in the cylinder against the actionof the spring, a piston rod extending up. wardly from the piston, a knobon top of said piston rod, a pin passing through the knob and connectedto the detent locking mechanism, and a groove in the top of the knobsaid groove bi-i secting said pin, whereby the pin may be op erated bythe finger nail to release the detent locking means, but when the fingeror thumb is placed on the knob the pin will not be operated and thelocking means will not be released.

5. In apparatus of the class described, in

combination, a container for liquid to be sprayed, a pressure conduit, apressure generator connected to said pressure conduit, means actuated bysaid pressure in the conduit arranged to discharge atomized liquid fromsaid container, a movable member forming part of said pressuregenerator, and so constructed and arranged as to actuate said pressuregenerator thereby discharging liquid from said container, an annularmember through which said movable member projects and in which saidmovable member slidably fits, a pin including a portion with a. lateralrecess said portion being in the movable member, a ball of a size to fitin said recess located in an opening in the wall of said movable memberthus to hold said movable member in one position thereof, and a mountingfor the pin to permit movement thereof whereby said ball may fit in saidrecess to release the movable member.

6. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a container forliquid to be sprayed, a pressure conduit, a pressure generator connectedto said pressure conduit, means actuated by said pressure in the conduitarranged to discharge atomized liquid from said container, an actuatingmember for said generator, means limiting the movement of said actuatingmember to a rectilinear path said member extending upwardly from saidcontainer, a manually engageable member forming part of said actuatingmember, a pin extending from the top of said manually engageable memberand movable therein, a laterally recessed member connected to said pin,said recessed member being located in a bore in said actuating member,there being a hole in the side of said actuating member, and a ballengageable through said hole with a part connected to the container tohold the actuating member in position and disengageable when the pin ismoved to bring the recess opposite said ball.

7. In an atomizer, the combination with a cylinder, a plunger operatingtherein, a cylinder head for the cylinder, a fiuid discharge tube, anozzle arranged at the discharge end of the tube, connections wherebyatomized fluid is discharged from the nozzle upon movement of theplunger in one direction, and a cover for the nozzle mounted on theplunger, of means to hold the plunger in one position, means to releasethe plunger, an operating handle for the plunger having a groove, and apin located in the groove connected to operate the means to release theplunger, whereby the plunger may be reciprocated by finger pressure thefinger resting over the groove and without effect on the pin andreleased with a finger nail.

CARL JULIUS LAGERHOLM.

